Device and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A programmable drug delivery system, said system comprising:
- (a) a housing capable of being implanted in the human body, said human body having a heart with atrial and ventricular chambers, and a peritoneal and thoracic cavity;
(b) electronic means within the housing including electrical connection means and means for analyzing electrical signals of the type produced by the heart received through said electrical connection means, for identifying signals indicating the onset of arrhythmia in the heart, and for providing electrical energy to the heart through the connection means to effect sinus rhythm of the heart in response to a signal from said analyzing means indicating a predetermined condition of the heart;
(c) a rechargeable reservoir means within the housing having an outlet opening for supplying under pressure through the outlet opening a liquid chemical capable of treating the tissues of the heart in response to a signal from said analyzing means indicating the onset of arrhythmia of the heart;
(d) a first catheter, said first catheter comprising an elongate body having a peripheral surface, proximal and distal ends, a liquid lumen extending longitudinally in said body from an inlet end at said proximal end to an outlet port between said proximal and distal ends, valve means on said elongate body at said outlet port for affording movement of liquid under pressure in said liquid lumen out through said outlet port, said distal end adapted for positioning within the peritoneal cavity or the thorax cavity, adjacent the heart, and said first catheter including attachment means for attaching the first catheter to tissue in the peritoneal cavity or in the thorax cavity adjacent the heart; and
(e) a second catheter, said second catheter comprising an elongate body having a peripheral surface, an electrode on said peripheral surface, said electrode being at or adjacent said distal end to afford positioning the catheter in the heart, and an electrical lead extending longitudinally within said body from contact ends at said proximal end to said electrode;
the proximal end of said first catheter elongate body being attached to the housing with the contact end of said electrical lead being coupled to said electrical connection means so that the electronic means receives signals through said electrode, and the electrical energy to the heart is provided through said electrode.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable programmable drug delivery system for injection of a pharmaceutical agent into the peritoneum to treat cardiac arrhythmia is described. The device consists of essentially three components: a main body containing electronics, power supply, valve means, and drug reservoir; an electronic lead into the heart to transmit impulses from the heart and deliver electronic responses to the heart; and a separate specialized drug delivery catheter for delivery of agents to the peritoneal cavity or near the exterior of the pericardium.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A programmable drug delivery system, said system comprising:
-
(a) a housing capable of being implanted in the human body, said human body having a heart with atrial and ventricular chambers, and a peritoneal and thoracic cavity; (b) electronic means within the housing including electrical connection means and means for analyzing electrical signals of the type produced by the heart received through said electrical connection means, for identifying signals indicating the onset of arrhythmia in the heart, and for providing electrical energy to the heart through the connection means to effect sinus rhythm of the heart in response to a signal from said analyzing means indicating a predetermined condition of the heart; (c) a rechargeable reservoir means within the housing having an outlet opening for supplying under pressure through the outlet opening a liquid chemical capable of treating the tissues of the heart in response to a signal from said analyzing means indicating the onset of arrhythmia of the heart; (d) a first catheter, said first catheter comprising an elongate body having a peripheral surface, proximal and distal ends, a liquid lumen extending longitudinally in said body from an inlet end at said proximal end to an outlet port between said proximal and distal ends, valve means on said elongate body at said outlet port for affording movement of liquid under pressure in said liquid lumen out through said outlet port, said distal end adapted for positioning within the peritoneal cavity or the thorax cavity, adjacent the heart, and said first catheter including attachment means for attaching the first catheter to tissue in the peritoneal cavity or in the thorax cavity adjacent the heart; and (e) a second catheter, said second catheter comprising an elongate body having a peripheral surface, an electrode on said peripheral surface, said electrode being at or adjacent said distal end to afford positioning the catheter in the heart, and an electrical lead extending longitudinally within said body from contact ends at said proximal end to said electrode; the proximal end of said first catheter elongate body being attached to the housing with the contact end of said electrical lead being coupled to said electrical connection means so that the electronic means receives signals through said electrode, and the electrical energy to the heart is provided through said electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for infusing liquid chemical agents directly into the peritoneal or thorax cavity of a human for the purpose of converting an arrhythmia of the heart to sinus rhythm, said method comprising the steps of:
-
sensing a series of electrical signals produced by the functioning of the heart; analyzing the electrical signals sensed in said sensing step to identify signals indicating the onset of arrhythmia; injecting into the peritoneal or thorax cavity a liquid chemical capable of converting the arrhythmia to sinus rhythm in response to the identification of signals indicating the onset of arrhythmia in said analyzing step; and applying electrical energy to the tissues of the heart to pace the heart after said injection step. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. An implantable, programmable drug delivery system for injection of a pharmaceutical agent into the peritoneum or thorax adjacent the heart to treat cardiac arrhythmia, said system comprising:
-
(a) a main body including a rechargeable reservoir for a pharmaceutical agent to be injected, said reservoir including an outlet, said main body further including a power supply, pump means and electronic control means; (b) a flexible first catheter for injecting the pharmaceutical agent which is constructed and arranged to extend from the outlet of said reservoir to the peritoneum or thorax adjacent to the heart of a patient, said first catheter including attachment means for attaching the first catheter to tissue in the peritoneum or thorax adjacent the heart and further including a valve means to regulate flow through said first catheter; (c) a second catheter adapted for positioning within the heart including means for determining the state of circulation; (d) arrhythmia detection means for receiving and interpreting the signal transmitted by said means for determining the state of circulation, to enable arrhythmia to be detected; and (e) means for injecting the pharmaceutical agent from said reservoir via said flexible catheter at a predetermined pressure, and activated by the arrhythmia detection means on detection of arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method for treating arrhythmia or fibrillation in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) implanting an intelligent feedback device into a patient, said device including a main body which includes a rechargeable reservoir for supplying a pharmaceutical agent, a power supply and electronic control means including a sensing catheter, and a flexible catheter for delivering said agent;
said flexible catheter including a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being in fluid communication with said reservoir;(b) inserting said sensing catheter to the heart such that it may sense conditions within the heart and send signals to the heart; and (c) attaching the distal end of said flexible catheter to tissue in the thorax adjacent the heart such that agents may be delivered in response to said electronic control means outside of the circulatory system for a controlled diffusion into the circulatory system.
-
-
18. A method for treating arrhythmia or fibrillation in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) implanting an intelligent feedback device into a patient, said device including a main body which includes a rechargeable reservoir for supplying a pharmaceutical agent, a power supply and electronic control means including a sensing catheter; and
a flexible catheter for delivering said agent;
said flexible catheter including a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being in fluid communication with said reservoir;(b) inserting said sensing catheter to the heart such that it may sense conditions within the heart and send signals to the heart; and (c) attaching the distal end of said flexible catheter to tissue in the peritoneal cavity such that agents may be delivered in response to said electronic control means outside of the circulatory system for a controlled diffusion into the circulatory system. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification